Count it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. . . . If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double- minded man, unstable in all his ways. 

James 1:2–3, 5–8

The first believers who experienced doubt came from a small congregation. Things were actually going along just fine: the congregation members worked hard, had fellowship with each other, and worshipped God together. But Satan had other plans. Approaching one of the members, he asked her the question that lives in infamy: “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” (Gen. 3:1). By his query, and his crafty follow- ups, Satan planted seeds of doubt in the woman’s mind and heart. Does God speak truth? Does God do what’s best? Is God good? The woman’s doubt made her waver, and she gave in to sin—with disastrous effects.

If Satan saw an opportunity to sow doubt in Eve—whose congregation of worshippers had everything good and beautiful it could ever need (Gen. 2:8–10)—how much more will he see a chance in us when our hearts and churches are struggling?

You may be wondering, How could the Lord allow me to keep going to church year after year without my spouse and children? How could God allow me to be sinned against by my elders? How could the Lord allow our congregation to see so little fruit? In the midst of your hurt, Satan is ready to incite doubt: Is God actually trustworthy?

James knows this, and in today’s verses he tells us three things.

First, he explains why the Lord allows us to experience hardship. Our “various trials” are intended by a good God to increase our faith and make us steadfast. When we are weakened by suffering, we can be strong, because we have arrived at a place where we have no option except to cast ourselves on the Lord’s strength (2 Cor. 12:7–10).

Second, James tells us what to do in trials. We should “ask God . . . in faith” for the wisdom to navigate them well. If our trials are to produce spiritual fruit in us, we need the help of our sovereign and good God.

Third, James tells us what to beware of: doubt. When we doubt God, we become “double- minded” and “unstable,” an easy target for Satan’s schemes and the world’s lies. Instead, we must come to God in faith—believing that he is who he says he is and that he cares for those who trust him (Heb. 11:6).

— Megan Hill, author, Sighing on Sunday